Wall paper remover



1957 J. P. HOWARD WALL PAPER REMOVER Filed April 24, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet1 VIIIIuIIIA INVENTOR. John E Howard BY WW 7"/ ATTORNEY Feb. 19, -1957J. P. HOWARD WALL PAPER REMOVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1952 IN V EN TOR. John P H0 wore Feb. 19, 1957 J. P. HOWARD WALL PAPER REMOVER4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 24, 1952 IN V EN TOR. John I? Howard Feb.19, 1957 J. P. HOWARD 2,781,755

WALL PAPER REMOVER Filed April 24, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.John 1? H0 war'o BY ATTORNEY? United States Patent s WALL PAPER REMOVERJohn P. Howard, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 24, 1952, Serial No.284,074

-7 Claims. ,(Cl. 126--Z71.1)

This invention'relates to improvements in wall paper removers.

' One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a wall paperremover having meansfor generating steam or other hot vapor close to thesurface of the wall paper to be removed.

A further object of thepresent invention is to provide a wall paperremover having a moisture applicator movable between an operativeposition in contact with a heating means for generating steam forremoving the wall paper and an inoperative, normal position spaced fromthe heating means wherein no steam is generated.

A further object of the present invention-is to provide a wall paperremoverhaving a moisture applicatormovable between an operative positionin'contact with a heating means for generating steam for removing wallpaper and anvinoperative, normal position spaced from the heating meanswherein no steam is .generated,v and having a moistening means forengaging the applicator in its inoperative position withacontrolledwetting to damp- .mover with portions thereof cut away and shown insection and with the applicator and-heating means spaced apart in theirnormal or inoperative position;

Fig. 1a is a partial view of the post in Fig. l but with asteam'defiector added thereto;

Fig. 2 is an endelevational view of the Wall paper remover of Fig. 1with portions again cut away and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the wallpaper remover of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 4'is a topplan view of the moistening means with aportion of thesponge and the-inwardly directed flanges cut away to more clearlyshowthestructure of thespan;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the wall 2 cloth and amodified form of securem'ent'therebetwe'eng Fig. '8 is a perspectiveview of a portion of atwall paper remover shown in Fig. 6; I I g I Fig.9 is'another modified form of wall paper remover with theapplicator andheating means in their normal, spaced apart, inoperative position with.the applicator engaging the moistening means for controlled wetting;Fig. 10 is a top 'view of the wall paper remover shown inFig.9;

. Fig. 11' is an'end view of the applicator and heating means of 'Fig.'9 wherein aportion is broken away and shown'in' section; while Fig. 12is a side elevational viewof the wallpaper remover with the heatingmeansand the moisture .applicator in their operative or wall paperremoving" position.

Before the wall paper remover here illustrated is specific'allydescribed it is to be understood that the invention here involved is notlimited to thestructural'details for arrangement of parts here shownsince wallpaper removers embodying the present invention may take-various forms. .It also is to be understood that the phraseology orterminology herein employed is for purposes of description and not oflimitation since the scope-of the present invention is denoted by theappended claims.

The conventionalmethod of removing wall paper by steam has manydisadvantages. The apparatus generally includes a steam'boiler, a largebulky unit, having a flexible conduit connected witha nozzle fordirectinggthe emerging steam against the wallpaper to be removed. Thedisadvantages are many. The apparatus -isexpensive. There is always thedanger-that the steam'boiler will blow up if the steam pressure shouldaccidentally become too high. .Generally, a gasor kerosene burner isused for heating the boiler and there is always the danger of explosion.More heat must be provided by the boiler if the steam is not to cooltoomuch; this increases the danger of the boiler blowing up. 'In-orde rto leave the'combustion products of the burner out of the" room, theuser may need to open the windows.- On a cold day, this will also coolthe steam travelling through the conduit from the boiler to thenozzle.In other words, the quality of the steam impingedagainst the wall paperwill depend upon the climate, season of the yearand manyotherfactors.

Also, the steam boiler generates-a large amount of steam, much of whichdoes not penetrate into the wall I paper but escapes at the nozzle orthrough leaks in'the paper remover wherein it is shown in its operativeor wall boiler/or conduit. The large amount" of steam inthe room makesit disagreeable to work on hot humid sumof the drawings includes aheating means which is here shown as an electricallyheated plate 21having electrical heating elements therein and closely resembling aflatiron. A thermostatic control can be provided, if de- :sired, to makethe heating responsiveto the temperature of the plate. Also, th'e'backor'top of the plate in Fig. 1 may beinsula'ted to preventtheh'eatfromradiattribal heating wires 'fromthe flexible cord 24,connected to a source of electricity, to the heating elements of theplate 21. However, thewires need not pass through the posts if thisconstruction is not desired.

A moisture "applicator isprovided. This 'is shown in the presentdisclosure-as a moisture absorbing'and retaining Cloth- Z5 --a'dapted tobemOiS teIi'c d with -a liquid and then inserted, as seen in Fig. 5between the wall paper 26 to be removed and the heating means 21. Whenthey are brought into contact with each other or within close proximityof each other, the heating means 21 will vaporize moisture and the vaporin turn will be driven through the wall paper to soften the adheringglue. -Generally, the moisture takes the form of water and steam isgenerated by the heating means, but it should be understood that anyother type of liquid glue solvent or softener, which can be vaporized byheat, may be used.

This invention also contemplates that the cloth 25 may be woven aroundand on both sides of a wire screen. This wire screen would not onlyreinforce the cloth but also serve as a heat conductor between theheating means and the moisture since the metallic wire screen wouldprovide a heating surface in the cloth in intimate contact with themoisture.

Any type high absorbent cloth can be used. A good example isconventional toweling.

A carrier means, generally shown at 38, is provided for supporting thecloth or applicator 25 in association with the heating means 21. Thiscarrier means includes a back or upper wall 31 having downwardly(Fig. 1) or forwardly (Fig. 5) directed side walls or flanges 32. InFig. 1, these flanges each have an upwardly bent distal edge 33 having aserrated upper edge 33a thereon. When the cloth 25 is stretched over thelower edges of the downwardly directed side walls 32 and is bent overthe serrated edges in the manner shown in Fig. l, the carrier.

means serves as a frame for supporting the cloth in taut condition withthe serrated edges serving as a means for detachably connecting thecloth to the carrier member. This invention contemplates that otherequivalent types of detachable connections may be used in addition tothe specific type shown as serrated edges in the present disclosure. Theserrated edges are shown for convenience and not for limitation. Theframe formed by the carrier means stretches the cloth along its widthand length dimension to secure its taut mounting on the frame. 7

The carrier member, including the side walls 32, serves to localize andconcentrate the steam (Fig. 5) to drive it through the wall paper toloosen or soften the glue. The steam cannot readily escape into theroom.

The carrier means 30 is provided with spaced apertures 31a, 31a in theback wall 31 through which the posts 23, 23 of the handle 22 mayproject. Then, the carrier means 30 can freely move relative to theheating means 21 to assume either the inoperative, spaced relationshipof Fig. 1 or the operative, wall paper removing relationship in Fig. 5.i V

The upper surface of back wall 31 in Fig. 2 may be provided with a roughand shiny surface so' that any heating of the carrier means will notradiate back to annoy the user when he grips the handle 22. Also, abaffle or deflector plate 23a can be secured to each post 23 above eachaperture 31a to protect the users hand on handle 22 from any escapingsteam, as shown in Fig. la.

Means are provided for securing the carrier means 30 and the heatingmeans 21 together for permitting relative movement between them. Thismeans takes the form of a resilient means normally biasing the carriermeans 30 and the heating means 21 into their inoperative position shownin Figs. 1 and 2. A post 40 in Fig. 2 is secured to the heating means 21and is spaced outwardly from but in alignment with each post 23. Each ofthe two posts has a threaded upper end and extends upwardly through analigned hole in the back wall 31. A compression spring 42 surrounds eachpost and a nut 41 is screwed onto the threaded upper end with a washerlocated between the lower face of the nut. and the upper end of thespring. These springs normally bias the heating means 21 and themoisture applicator 25 into spaced relationship, as shown in Figs. 1 and2. Although two springs 42 are shown in the present disclosure toprovide a sturdy construction, a lesser or greater number of springs maybe used if desired.

It is apparent that the heating means 21 and the moisture applicatorcloth 25 are held close together by this structure and are arranged forrelative movement so that they may assume either the position in Fig. lor the position in Fig. 5. In Fig. l, the heating means 21 and themoisture applicator 25 do not contact or do not lie in close proximityto each other. This is their normal, inoperative position into whichthey are urged by the springs 42. The applicator is spaced from the heating means sothat no steam is generated from the moisture' in theapplicator while the wall paper remover is not in use. Also, theapplicator can readily be moistened in this position without having theheating means vaporize the moisture absorbed and without having themoisture needlessly chill the heating means so that it is not aseffective as desired when wall paper is to be removed. In Fig. 5, theparts are shown in their operative or wall paper removing position withthe heating means 21 either pressing against and contacting the moistureapplicator 25 or being in close proximity therewith. The springs 42 areeasily overcome when the user exerts pressure on the handle 22 to pressthe moisture applicator firmly against the wall paper to be removed.When the heating means moves into the position in Fig. 5, it vaporizesthe moisture in the applicator 25 and causes the hot vapors to permeatethe wall paper to loosen the glue. The applicator 25 is firmlysandwiched between the heating means 21 and the wall paper 26 so thatsteam is only generated in a localized area, the steam being confined bythe carrier means 30 andthe heating means 21, and any pressure createdwhile generating the steam will cause it to be driven through thewallpaper 26.

Wetting or moistening of the applicator 25 must be strictly controlled.If it becomes too wet, it will drip down onto the floor and woodwork asit is carried over to the wall paper removing position in Fig. 5. if itis not wet enough, it will have to be moistened too frequently. Also,when the applicator25 is moistened by being placed in contact with wateror other satisfactory liquid, the heating means 21 must be kept awayfrom the liquid to prevent chilling of the heating means and prevent thegeneration of needless steam. A moistening means, generally shown at 45,has been provided for wetting the applicator 25 in a controlled manner.This means engages the applicator 25 while it is spaced from the heatingmeans 21. In Fig. l, the applicator 25 and the heating means 21 arespaced apart in their inoperative position and the applicator 25 isspaced slightly above the moistening means 45. When the applicator 25engages and is supported by the moistening means 45, the heating means21 will still be in subtsantially the same spaced relationship due tothe force exerted by the springs 42.

The moistening means consists of a pan 46 (Fig. 2) for retaining a poolof liquid and a liquid transfer means 47 in the'pan contacting the pooland having an upper surface spaced from the pool for supporting themoisture applicator 25 and for transferring the liquid from the pool tothe applicator. In the present disclosure, this takes the form of anabsorbent pad or sponge, either a synthetic or natural sponge. Thissponge will transfer the liquid from the bottom of the pan up to theapplicator 25. It should be noted that the sponge 47 is smaller in widthand length than the frame-like, applicator engaging portion of thecarrier means 30 but is larger than the heating means 21. Hence,sufiicient moisture is provided for. full utilization of the heatingmeans for generating steam but the cloth 25 is not needlessly saturatedwith liquid or moistened at its outer edges. There will be no danger ofhaving liquid drip off of the applicator 25 as the unit is carried overinto contact with the wall paper to be removed.

The top surface'of the sponge 47 can either be flat or slightly convexupwardly. The latter structure is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and provides abetter contact between the sponge and the applicator during wetting Iretaining thelspohge in, thegpan. ,TheseflangesAS form a shelf for.supporting the carrier .3 .above the liquid pool when theapplicator 25is being {moistened by the sponge 47. The upper surfa ce. of.,;thesponge .47 will be depressed to aposition.lapprogrimatelyllevel ,withthetop of the ,fiange or ledge ,48 under the weight of the steam generatingunit. F;ig. 9, illustrating another type i of wallpaper removerand,bein'g describedi in moredetail later inthe specification,illustrates the use of the flange 48.

"The inwardly directedflanges 48, completely surrounding ,the sides ofthe sponge 47,; can either be soldered or otherwisesecured thepanflfi orcan be removably securedtherein by-theinclincd side walls of the pan.The four flanges can be ofi frame shape as a continuous flange. Also,the inner edge of eachfiange can dig into the sides of sponge 4.7 and beremovable therewith from pan 46. This inventionalso contemplates thestructure wherein no sponge 47 is provided but pan 46 has the frame-likeinwardly directed flange 48 in the position shown. The frame-like flange48 will support the carrier 30 above the liquid pool and if there is aslight sag in the cloth applicator 25 it may contact the surface of thepool for wetting. The pool can be kept at a constant depth by havingliquid supplied to the pool in response tothe depth therein by anyconventional type of control means. However, with this structure thereis always the danger that the cloth applicator 25 will become too Wetand will drip while being carried to the wa l paper removing position.

Figs, 6 to 8 inclusive portray a modified form of wall paper remover.This device is exactly the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusiveexcept for the construction of the carrier means 130. The carrier meansin Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive includes a back wall 131 having forwardly ordownwardly directed side walls or flanges 132 on all sides. A-bead 133is formed at the lower end of each side wall 132. This structure formsthe main carrier means connected to the heating means '21 by the springs42 and being provided with apertures 131a around the handle posts 23.

An auxiliary carrier means is also provided for supporting the cloth 25and is detachably carried by the main carrier means. This auxiliarycarrier means includes a frame 134 having upwardly or rearwardly bentouter edges 135. A resilient lug 136, adapted to snap over the bead 133to secure the two components together, maybe either welded or otherwisesecured to the frame 134 at its lower edge or integrally formed from theframe 134 and bent into the shape shown in Fig. 7. Spaced lugs 136 areprovided around the frame 134. For convenience and in no sense oflimitation the lug 136 and-thebead 133 are provided as a detachableconnection between a closed loop above bead 133 in Figs. 6 and 7 butwith the toweling 125 extending below the heating means, as shown in thesame figures.

However, the lug 136 has another function. The cloth 25 is detachablyconnected with thefr-ame 135 and this detachable connection means maytake various forms. serrations may be provided on the upper edge offlanges 135, if desired. Also, the edge of the cloth 25 may,Thetrame'134 of the auxiliary,..carrier: means has'a handle 137 securedto one edge. It is useful during the assembly. and disassembly. ofthetwocarrienmcans after they have been heated by. .-.the.rhea.-tingmeans-21 andthe. transporting of theapplicator...25 whenit is in itsmoistened ordamp condition. :Also, thehandlei137 makes itupossible to,use the. moisture. applicator .25.- with ,any'other type-of heating.means desired v,in addition to the heating means 21. v

Another form of wall paper removeris shown, in Figs. 9 to 12 incl nsive.The structurehere isvthesam'e asthat shown in Figs. 1 to Sexcept for thespecific changes mentioned"hereinafterin the carriermeans arid theresilient connecting meansbetween the carrier means and the heatingmeans. ,In the structuresin' Figs.. 1 tof8 inclusive, the carrier means36 was formed separately from the resilient connecting means, the latterincluding spring 42 in Fig. 2. In 'Figs. 9 to 1'2inclusive,,the'se twomeans are substituted by' an integral member 230' which performs bothfunctions. Itincludesa springmember'240 adapted to engage the rear ofthe -heating 'means 21 .(Fig. 9) and having forwardly directed'fianges'at its opposite ends (Fig. 12). Theseforwardly directed spaced flanges232, 232 are eaohgreater in length than the thickness of the heatingmeans '21. Spaced rivets 238, "233 secure themember 240 to the hackertopsurfacecf the-heating meansalong the midpoint between the spacedflanges 1232,2552. Anelongated aperture 231a (Fig. 10) is 10- catedv inthe member '24trforthe-pr0jection therethrough of the posts 23, .23 ofthe -handle22. 'Theapplicator ZS issecured to the distalor'forwardendofeach of the .flanges .232 by any suitable detachableconnect-ion, such7 as the serrated edges.previously-mentionedon members .desired,*b,u,talsoserves as a resilientmeans to normally bias-the applicator 25andathe heating means 21 into a spaced apart, inoperative position, asshown in Fig. :9. The resiliency is easily-overcome by firmlypdshing thehandle 22 .(Fig. 12) forward :until the heating means 2 1 comes intocontact :with or .in close proximity with the cloth applicator 25. Then,the parts are in their operative wallpaper removing position. Theapplicator 25 is moistened ,by the wetting means 45 (Fig. *9) in thesame manner as fully described heretofore. It should now be apparentthat the integral member 230 performs the function of :both the carriermeans and the resilient connection between the carrier means and theheating means 21 and retains most of the superior features mentioned indescribing Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

The operation of the present invention should now be apparent.Considering the wall paper remover of Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, themoisture applicator 25 gets a controlled amount of water'iby being heldin contact with the sponge 47 of the moisten'ing means 45 in Fig.

9 The resiliency of the member 230 is suificient to keep the moistureapplicator 25 spaced from the heating means 21 during wetting whilestill permitting the parts to assume the position in Fig. 12 when thewall paper is to be removed. The user merely grasps the handle .22 andpushes theheating. means toward the wall paper .26 so that the moisturein the applicator 25 will "be reasonable in .price to .tnanufaeture,light in weight,

nifinSYl-W 3 The cloth applicator zseaneasily be replaced on the carriermember even though the heating means 21 may be hot. The live steampenetrating the wall paper 26 is very hot since the steam is generatedclose to the wall paper surface and need not be conveyed thereto withthe consequent loss of heat. hot, live steam, hotter than that generatedby the conventional wall paper steamer, will easily penetrate wall paperhaving a painted outer surface. This type of wall paper is generallyvery difiicult to remove because the steam does not easily penetrate thesurface coating. Steam is only generated when needed. No steam isgenerated when the parts are in their normal position as shown in Fig.9. The high temperature of the steam enables the user to remove the wallpaper faster and in greatest quantities for a given amount of steamreleased into the room.

The controlled wettings of the applicator 25 by the wetting means 45have many advantages. The cloth applicator will not become soaking wetso that water will drip therefrom on the woodwork and floors as thesteam generating means is moved from the position in Fig. 9 to that inFig. 12. The steam generating unit is light in weight since a largewater supply need not be carried with it as it is moved over the wallsurface having the wall paper to be removed.

The wall paper removers, as disclosed in the present application,overcome many of the disadvantages found in prior devices. Each wallpaper remover disclosed herein is much cheaper to construct andmanufacture. There is no danger of blow-up by a steam boiler gen eratingexcessive pressure and no danger of an explosion by the burner forheating the boiler. No excess steam is generated to spoil the woodworkand other finished surfaces in the room or to make the room hot, humidand unbearable to work in. When the wall paper is attached to plasteredwalls, the plaster has a longer life since it is not subjected to alarge amount of steam which would normally cause rapid deterioration.

Various changes in details and arrangement of parts can be made by one.skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this inventionor the scope of the appended claims.

What I claimis:

1. A wall paper remover comprising a heating means,

a'moisture applicator, an applicator carrier means, and

resilient means normally biasing said heating means and said applicatorinto inoperative position in spaced relationship with each other buteasily overcome by pressure exerted on said heating means for urging ittoward said applicator into operative position with said applicatorsandwiched between said heating means and the wall paper to be removed,said resilient means and carrier means comprising a spring memberadapted to engage the rear of said heating means and having forwardlydirected flanges at opposite ends, each of said flanges being greater inlength than the thickness of said heating means, said moistureapplicator taking the form of a length of cloth secured to the forwarddistal ends of said flanges, the mid-point of said spring member betweensaid flanges being secured to the back of said heating means.

2. A wall paperremover comprising a heating means; a moistureapplicator; an applicator carrier means; resilient means normallybiasing said heating means and said applicator into inoperative positionin spaced relationship with each other but easily overcome by pressureexerted on said heating means for urging it toward said applicator intooperative position with said applicator sandwiched between said heatingmeans and the Wall paper to be removed, said resilient means and carriermeans comprising a spring member adapted to engage the rear of saidheating meansand having forwardly directed flanges at opposite ends,each of said llanges being greater in length than the thickness of This8 said heating means, said moisture applicator taking the form of alength of cloth secured to the forward distal ends of said flanges, themid-point of said spring mem 'ber between said flanges being secured tothe back of said heating means, said spring member having an aperturebetween said flanges; and a handle secured to the rear of said heatingmeans and extending rearwardly through said aperture.

3. A wall paper remover comprising a heating means, a moistureapplicator associated with said heating means for relative movementbetween a contacting and a noncontacting position, and a moisteningmeans for engaging said applicator in said non-contacting position sothat said applicator can absorb moisture without having it vaporize,said moistening means including a pan for retaining a pool of liquid andincluding a liquid transferring means in said pan contacting said pooland having asurface spaced from said pool for supporting said moistureapplicator in said non-contacting posirion and for transferring liquidthereto from said pool.

4. A wall paper remover comprising a heating means, a. moistureapplicator associated with said heating means for relative movementbetween a contacting and a noncontacting position, and a moisteningmeans for engaging said applicator insaid non-contacting position sothat said applicator can absorb moisture without having it vaporize,said moistening means including a pan for retaining a pool of liquid andinwardly directed supportingfianges above said pool for supporting saidheating means above said pool in said non-contacting position whilepermitting said applicator to absorb moisture from said pool.

5. A wall paper remover comprising a heating means, a moistureapplicator associated with said heating means for relative movementbetween a contacting and a noncontacting position, and a moisteningmeans for engaging said applicator in said non-contacting position sothat said applicator can absorb moisture without having it vaporize.said moistening means including a pan for retaining a pool of liquid andincluding a liquid transferring means in said pan contacting said pooland having a surface spaced from said pool for supporting said moistureapplicator in said non-contacting position and for transferring liquidthereto from said pool, said transferring means being a sponge.

6. A wall paper remover comprising a heating means, a moistureapplicator associated with said heating means for relative movementbetween a contacting and a noncontacting position, and a moistening forengaging said applicator in said non-contacting position so that saidapplicator can absorb moisture without having it vaporize, saidmoistening means including a pan for retaining a pool of liquid andincluding a liquid transferring means in said pan contacting said pooland having a surface spaced from said pool for supporting said moistureappiicator in said non-contacting position and for transferring liquidthereto from said pool, said transferring means being a sponge having anupwardly convex upper surface for making a good contact with saidapplicator.

7. A wall paper remover comprising a heating means. a moistureapplicator associated with said heating means for relative movementbetween a contacting and a noncontacting position, and a moisteningmeans for engaging said applicator in said non-contacting position sothat said applicator can absorb moisture without having it vaporize,said moistening means including a pan for retaining a pool of liquid andincluding a liquid transferring means in said pan contacting said pooland having a surface spaced from said pool for supporting said moistureapplicator in said non-contacting position and for transfer-ring liquidthereto from said poohsaid transferring means being a sponge, saidmoistening means also including inwardly directed flanges engaging thesides of said pan and said sponge above said pool for retaining saidsponge in said pan and for supporting said heating means above said poolin said non-contacting position while permitting said applicator toabsorb moisture from said pool through said sponge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSRubenstein Dec. 12, 1916 Tucker Sept. 20, 1921

